Bishop to Catholic media: Use communication to build communion

Bicol Catholic Media Group, delegates from the dioceses of Bicol, with the Most Rev. Gilbert A. Garcera, D.D., Archbishop of Lipa on the 2nd Day of the 5th National Catholic Media Convention. A total of 185 priests, religious and laity participants engaged in social communications gathered on August 6-9, 2019 at Shercon Ecology Park and Resort, Mataasnakahoy, Lipa City, Batangas for the national convention hosted by the Archdiocese of Lipa and the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications of CBCP. From left to right: Noriel Damiano of the Diocese of Libmanan, Rolando Serrano of the Diocese of Legazpi, Roger Modino of the Diocese of Libmanan, Fr. Paulo Barandon of the Diocese of Legazpi, George Santiago of the Diocese of Libmanan, Arbp. Gilbert Garcera, D.D., Sr. Judy Zamar, fsp of the Archdiocese of Caceres, Fr. Francis Francisco of the Diocese of Libmanan, Romulo Brando Atendido of the Diocese of Legazpi, Daisy Hara of the Diocese of Libmanan and Myrna Bermudo of the Archdiocese of Caceres. (Photo by Bishop Junie Maralit, D.D.)

A Catholic bishop has encouraged church media practitioners to explore further how communication can be used for communion building.

Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications (ECSC) stressed the importance of communication for building and nourishing communion.

Echoing Pope Francis message for this year’s World Communications Day, he urged the responsible use of the internet to help build Christian community.

“This is the challenge for us now is the shift from communication to communion,” Vergara told the participants of this year’s National Catholic Media Congress (NCMC) on Aug. 6.

The challenge, according to him, is doing something not just on social media but how to let the people feel the love of God.

“The importance is what we do to spread the Gospel will not just stay in the social media but will also touch the hearts of the people for them to experience God’s love,” he added.

More than 180 participants from across the country joined this year’s convention held in Mataasnakahoy, Batangas.

Now on its fifth year, the four-day gathering was organized by the ECSC to strengthen the collaboration among the Catholic media.

Amid the “persecution” that the church is facing, Vergara stressed that building a community of social communicators having one voice is necessary.

“It is at this time that we cannot work alone, that is, to each his own. We need to work together given our identity and mission as one Body of Christ, one Church,” he said.

Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, host of this year’s NCMC, has called the participants towards the “renewal of truth”.

“The renewal for truth is our transformation as instruments of God to spread truth,” Garcera said.

Also present during the gathering was Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit, the incoming chairman of ECSC.

This year’s convention was preceded by the annual assembly of the Catholic Media Network member stations, whose franchises were recently renewed by the government for another 25 years. CBCPNEWS